Tempo Free for two

Here’s a look from the tempo free perspective of two notable games of the past week. South Carolina upset top ranked Kentucky 68-62 knocking the Wildcats from the ranks of unbeaten. The key factor, besides possessions and offensive efficiency, was turnovers.

	              POSS        OE       TO RATE
Kentucky	       69         90          22
South Carolina         72	  94	      15

UK had 15 turnovers and South Carolina 11.  It doesn’t seem like a great difference, but when over one fifth of your possessions are wasted on one of these annoying miscues, it is.  Especially in what ultimately played out as a two-possession contest.

The Downey effect. Devan Downey the 5-9 senior had another superb night as he led all scorers with 30 points. The NBA efficiency model ratings follow:

	      Points	Efficiency
Downey, SC	30	    49
Cousins, UK	27	    31
Raley-Ross, SC	17	    14
Wall, UK	19	     8

The efficiency adds points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals while subtracting missed field goals, missed free throws and turnovers.

Downey was 9 of 29 from the field but added 5 rebounds, three assists and went 10-11 from the line. His per minute efficiency was an outstanding 1.290. And not computed in the formula were the acrobatic shots, closely defended and in traffic, many of which were vitally needed in crunch time. SportsCenter probably had a difficult time choosing their Downey highlight shot of the night.
DeMarcus Cousins had a solid 27-point, 12-rebound night while John Wall added 19. Wall’s efficiency was hurt by 6 of 16 shooting as well as two assists, four turnovers.
Brandis Raley-Ross, another South Carolina senior guard, added an almost forgotten 17-point, 5-rebound effort that complemented Downey’s surreal exploits.

The Obama effect. Let’s see, over the past year the President campaigned for Democratic friends in Virginia (loss), New Jersey (loss, thank the Lord it’s my home state) and Massachusetts (big upset) to name a few. He did cross the pond last Summer to try get the Olympics in Chicago. We know what happened there.
After the Wildcats ascended to number one President Obama called UK coach John Calipari to thank him for his outstanding fund raising efforts for Haiti and to chat a little basketball. Seems the President, who knows his basketball, felt UK would be all right against South Carolina.

The President is not on too good a streak these days.

In a game that should have been televised Rhode Island edged Dayton 65-64 on a last second Marquis Jones three pointer. Tempo free notes of interest…

Possessions Offensive Efficiency TO RATE
Rhode Island 62 105 24
Dayton 63 102 16

This was a huge Atlantic Ten contest both teams desperately wanted as URI lost at Xavierthe past Saturday and did not want to end this rigorous Ohio jaunt 0-2. Dayton had been upset a few days earlier at St.Joe’s and was back in the friendly confines of home where they hadn’t loss since….well the last administration.
In a slower paced game URI had 15 turnovers and a ridiculously high 24% TO rate. The Rams compensated by out rebounding Dayton 30-27 (13-9 on the offensive end). Jim Baron’s club also knocked down 10 treys (10-23) while the Flyers struggled on the perimeter with a 3 of 14 mark beyond the arc. URI had an eFG percentage of 53% while Dayton checked in at 48%. Jones ultimately put the dagger in Dayton with that last shot but Delroy James, URI’s 6-8 senior forward, was a major factor with 22 points including 6 of 8 from three.

Final Oval Office note : President Obama took in the Duke=Georgetown game on Saturday. Given his recent track record, from a superstitious viewpoint, I doubt either mentor was looking for a pre-game Presidential ‘seal of approval’.

South Carolina: Gamecocks Embrace $25K Win

South Carolina earned a $25,000 fine after fans rushed the court following the team’s 68-62 win against No. 1 Kentucky, according to an Associated Press report.

Fans celebrated with the team immediately after the final buzzer sounded, which violates an SEC policy intended to prevent mayhem that could endanger fans, coaches, referees or players. The rule was a product of the madness in Detroit when a fan threw a beer onto Ron Artest, then of the Indiana Pacers, and a players vs. fans brawl erupted.

On Tuesday, Kentucky coach John Calipari immediately left the floor instead of shaking hands the South Carolina team. The rule stands in place to especially protect members of the opposing team, who must navigate a path through unruly celebrating fans to the locker room. They’re not happy about losing; hundreds of fans are delirious about winning. It’s a volatile mix.

“This policy is designed to create a safe environment for everyone who participates and attends our athletic contests,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. “The security and protection of our student athletes, coaches, officials and fans is our primary concern.”

Despite the rule, it’s hard to find an appropriate release for thousands of emotional fans. Devan Downey, who led South Carolina to the victory with 30 points, encouraged fans to join the team on the court.

Downey pointed to the crowd, yelling “I told you so” after the win. When asked about a potential SEC fine Tuesday night, he smiled and said, “I’m pretty sure the university’s got some money somewhere to pay the fine.”

“I’m not saying it’s right, wrong or whatever, but when you beat a No. 1 team in the country, you want to remember that moment in a special way,” he said. “Yeah, I told them to come on the court.”

Downey Needs Support for South Carolina

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Wednesday night’s 85-76 loss at Boston College is an indicator of where South Carolina is right now.  They’re a team with a clear go-to guy and clear areas for improvement if they are to succeed in SEC play.

The Gamecocks started the game off reasonably in that they didn’t fall too far behind.  They were still within striking distance at 30-23 with over eight minutes left in the first half, and at times their active and aggressive defense made it tough on the Eagles.  But two 9-0 runs with a basket in between changed all of that, putting the Eagles up 23 with over a minute and a half to play.  With a little patience, Boston College started picking apart the Gamecocks’ defense.  All of a sudden, it was a 21-point deficit at halftime.

“We just didn’t play,” said head coach Darrin Horn of the first half.  “We were bad.”

While South Carolina made it a ballgame in the second half as their press turned BC over and generally sped them up, they ran out of gas after getting within three at one point as the Eagles pulled away.

The Gamecocks have been hurt by injuries, to be sure.  Dominique Archie is done for the season with a knee injury, while forward Mike Holmes is likely out until early SEC play.  Archie declared for the NBA Draft along with Devan Downey after last season, but opted to return, and his loss hurts because it leaves them without a clear No. 2 guy behind Downey, who did everything he could to keep them in Wednesday’s game.

“Dominique Archie gave us a cushion,” said Horn.  “He covered up so much in so many ways.  Without him out there, we’ve lost that cushion.”

Downey kept the Gamecocks in it in the first half, then got others involved in the second as he had six of his seven assists in the latter frame.  He finished with 29 points, albeit on 28 shots, and was all over the court in 35 minutes.

“With the cushion they had, we were down 20-something, Coach said if you’re open, let it fly,” Downey said after the game.  “I was out there trying to win, I can’t be thinking about, ‘man I’m getting up too many shots’.  I got to do whatever is necessary for my team to win, but I would like to take less than 28 shots.”

Downey has long been more of a scorer than a playmaker, but the second half is something they could certainly use from him.  He made players better, while continuing to be a ball-hawking defender at the other end.  In their press, he was a factor, although he’ll do that even when a team breaks the press and tries to run their offense.

A return by Holmes could certainly boost this team.  He was averaging 11 points and 4.8 boards and shooting over 60 percent from the field before getting hurt.  With Archie out, they will need him more than ever as there doesn’t appear to be a clear Robin to Downey’s Batman on this team, although Downey feels players like Sam Muldrow and Brandis Raley-Ross are “more than capable” of being second scorers.  Downey will do all he can for this team, and they will lean on him, but they need more.  Holmes’ return could certainly help, but it won’t be a slam dunk for this team as he hasn’t consistently played to his potential.

“Mike hasn’t been a guy that we’ve been count on consistently, he just hasn’t in a lot of ways,” Horn said.

The way Horn sees it, other players all have to do their part if this team is to win.  With Kentucky being loaded once again, the SEC East is its usual bear of a division.  Tennessee is looking better amidst questions at the point guard spot, Florida should be a factor despite a recent slump, and Vanderbilt has many players an important year older and looks like just such a team compared to this time last year.  With Archie out and Holmes not a given to make this team a winner, there are two things this team knows.

“We need guys to contribute, that’s the bottom line,” said Horn.  “I’m not a big believer in ‘stepping up’ – that would indicate that somebody’s got to do something they’re not capable of before – we just need guys to do what they can do, and we didn’t do that in the first half (Wednesday night).  In the second half, we did.”

“We have to defend,” Downey added.  “That’s going to be the key to the success of this team.  We showed a little bit in the second half, but we’ve got to come out from minute one and defend.  Good basketball teams are good defensive teams.  We can’t think we’re going to have a shoot-out every night and out-score people.”

The Gamecocks could also stand to improve on the glass.  Boston College out-rebounded them 47-33, and on the season they are being out-rebounded by about four per game.  Opponents are grabbing 15 offensive rebounds per game (the Eagles had 18).

With SEC play just over a week away, South Carolina is 8-4 but doesn’t have a resume win thus far.  Their best win is either La Salle or Western Kentucky, two teams with a shot at the NCAA Tournament but neither a sure bet by a long shot right now.  They had a chance against Clemson but fell to the Tigers.  They have one more chance before SEC play, on Saturday against Baylor, before finishing at home against Longwood in a game they should win.

Right now, they look like a team that is a player or two away to support Downey.  Holmes could be that player when he comes back, or it could be someone like Muldrow or Raley-Ross.  It could also be multiple players, which Horn alluded to.  But it won’t be Archie, and filling that void is proving to be a challenge to this point.